Billboards are one of the most noticeable forms of advertising, and if you have ever driven down an interstate or highway you will know how prevalent they can be. If you have a company or business venture, it is normal for you to wonder if you can own your own billboard.

It is possible for someone to own their own billboard. Aspiring billboard owners can purchase already existing billboards, place one on their own land, or lease out commercial land where they can then place their billboard.

Getting into billboard ownership is an investment, but it could be a powerful strategic move for your business. Keep reading to learn more about billboard ownership, as well as some tips you can follow to get the most out of this advertisement strategy.

Can You Own a Billboard?

Billboards are a quintessential part of American advertising culture. As you drive down frequented roads, it might seem like there is a billboard for seemingly every service. If you want to get into the billboard marketing niche with your company, you can certainly own your own billboard.

The following sections will discuss the different ways you can go about owning a billboard.

1. Buy an Existing Billboard

With the thousands of miles of American highway space, there seems to be an excess of billboards. Many of these billboards serve a purpose for a company for a specific amount of time, but there will come a day when they are no longer needed. When this happens, these billboards are available to purchase for new companies.

This proves to be a highly effective method as you do not have to pay the cost to erect the billboard. Additionally, someone also has already strategically placed it, so you will know it is in a good location that will be seen by many potential customers.

To find a billboard for purchase, there are several options. You can contact a billboard broker, or even make a phone call if you see an empty billboard advertised on the highway. If you want to move the billboard though, keep this in mind as this can add to the overall cost of this investment.

2. Build Your Own Billboard

Another popular option for investors is to build your own billboard. This is a good choice, as people can make the billboard very customizable in accordance with their business needs.

Unless you are an experienced carpenter, you probably are not going to build it with your own hands. Instead, many people contract through construction companies that specialize in billboards or similar advertising materials. The cost of this will vary based on the following things:

• Size: Larger billboards will cost more as they require more materials to construct.
• Materials: A wooden billboard will be much cheaper than one with any sort of technological element or electrical functions.
• Installation: Many companies will offer to install the billboard for you, but this will come at a price.

If you are considering building your own billboard, it is worthwhile to contact a few different companies for a quote. Once you have these, you can compare prices and timelines to see what is best for you.

3. Land Placement for Billboards

If you are already a commercial landowner, you have a place where you can easily place your billboard at no additional cost to yourself.

However, if you do not own land, you will need to lease space where you can place your billboard. The cost of this will vary greatly, but you essentially need to find a landowner who is willing to let you construct a billboard on their property or use an already existing billboard that they own.

Most of the time, leasing a space for a billboard will entail paying money that helps the landowner cover the cost of their property. Even though you do not own the land technically, you are still the owner of the billboard. But keep in mind that if your lease ends, you will probably need to figure out how to dismantle and move your billboard to a new location.

Should you decide to lease land, you will want to negotiate the terms of agreement beforehand. Most lease agreements will state that the landowner cannot control the advertising content in exchange for the money paid on the lease. This a good thing to include as it gives you more advertising freedom.

Placing Your Billboard

Once you have decided your path to billboard ownership, you may need to decide where to place it. In general, you should take the following things into account:

• Land cost: Do not break your budget on a lease or buying land. You do need to put your billboard somewhere that it is marketable, but it is not worth it if it is outside of your price range.
• Visibility: Billboards should be in a clear space where there are minimal obstructions.
• Exposure: Billboards should also be located where many people will encounter them on their daily commute. Placing your billboard in a desirable area will be more expensive but will guarantee more exposure to a variety of prospective clients.

Placing a billboard is not rocket science, but you should carefully consider your budgetary needs against the rules of smart marketing. You want to get the most out of your investment, and a billboard can be a helpful tool for accomplishing this.

Conclusion

Billboards are a famous way to gain exposure for your company and put out an eye-catching piece of marketing material. Many customers are drawn to billboards as they pass them, making note of the company that is advertising and the services being offered. These advantages have made billboards a popular marketing choice for decades.

If you are a business owner or professional, it is certainly possible to own your own billboard. In fact, there are several different routes you can take towards billboard ownership that each have distinctive pros and cons. Before you buy a billboard, analyze your budget and needs. This will help you buy the best billboard for your situation and reach a high number of customers.

When using a stylus pen to draw and write on a tablet there is nothing more annoying than when your palm accidentally makes contact with the screen and makes a mess of things. You have heard about palm rejection but are not sure how it works and if it is necessary for drawing and writing.

Palm rejection is necessary to complete your work promptly without backtracking to edit mistakes caused by accidental palm touches. Utilizing palm rejection features gives you a more authentic drawing and writing experience, it lets you hold the stylus more comfortably and produce better work.   

To learn more about the ways palm rejection can add to your productivity and quality of work continue reading.

Benefits of Palm Rejection – Why It’s Necessary

As mentioned above, palm rejection features can be an invaluable asset if you frequently use a touch screen device for drawing and writing whether it’s for work, school, or just for fun.

The list below explains the benefits in greater detail so you have a better grasp of how palm rejection works and why it is necessary to produce quality work in a shorter amount of time.

1. Reduces Muscle Harmful Fatigue

You may not have considered this, but without palm rejection, it is often necessary to hold your wrist and hand in a somewhat awkward position to avoid touching unwanted areas of the screen.

Keeping your hand and wrist in such an awkward position for extended amounts of time can cause excessive strain on the muscles and tendons in your hands and wrist.

Carpal tunnel can become a huge and painful issue if you continue using a touch screen device without the aid of palm rejection.

Using the palm rejection settings allows you to comfortably hold the stylus and write in your natural position so it flows naturally across the screen.   

2. Gives Peace of Mind So You Can Stay Focused

If you are constantly worried about making accidental marks while working on your touch screen device you will not be completely focused on the task at hand.

Eliminating the worry of accidental palm touches can give you peace of mind that the only marks being made are intentional.

In addition to peace of mind, you will be able to complete your tasks more efficiently and accurately so you can move on to the next big thing on your to-do list.

3. Palm Rejection Improves Accuracy

When using a stylus pen it can take some time to get used to how much pressure to apply and which angle works best.

Using the palm rejection setting allows you to focus more on how you are holding and using the stylus pen so you can draw better lines and make your marks accurately every time.

Increased accuracy equals increased quality and productivity which makes everyone happy whether in a work or educational setting.

There are multitudes of stylus pens available today and some are designed to work with specific devices whereas others can be used universally.

The best stylus pens offer a setting that works with the touch screen device to maximize the potential of the palm rejection settings for even less risk of accidental palm touches.

4. Preserving the Life of Your Touch Screen

Enabling palm rejection can help to preserve the life of your touch screen and ensure that it works and responds properly for as long as possible before needing to be updated or replaced.

Using the palm rejection means the screen will only be responding to the stylus pen so it won’t be using unnecessary energy or memory trying to react to your palm touches.

5. Palm Rejection Improves Overall Experience for User

Enabling and utilizing the palm rejection features on a smart touch screen device along with the settings on the stylus pen improves the entire experience for the user.

When one doesn’t have to worry about making marks in the wrong places, accidentally changing settings, or closing out of the program entirely they can relax and enjoy what they are working on. 

If a person is more relaxed it will be reflected in their work regardless of if they are working on an important presentation or creating their next masterpiece.

Where Would We Be Without Palm Rejection?

As you can see from the information provided in this article, palm rejection is necessary for increased productivity, better quality presentions, and artwork. Without the inception of palm rejection, we would be about ten years behind, technologically speaking. Palm rejection has revolutionized the way people draw and write on touch screen devices and will only get better with time.

Rubber tip styluses are a popular choice amongst people who want the convenience of a stylus for the cell phone and tablet screens without paying premium prices. However, since these are consistently the cheapest options on the market, they have a tendency to struggle performance-wise.

In this article, we’ll discuss the 5 most common reasons why a rubber tip stylus pen isn’t working and what you can do to fix the issue. We will focus on passive rubber-tipped styluses that don’t contain internal electrical components and are compatible with capacitive screens. 

1. Clean Your Rubber Tip and Device Screen

When you first notice that your stylus’ rubber tip isn’t working as smoothly as usual, the first solution that comes to mind might be to immediately replace it with a new tip. While this is an option, there are several simple steps you can take first that might solve the problem in seconds.

You should clean your stylus’ rubber tip and your device’s screen. They can accumulate a layer of dust, oils, and other contaminants that create a barrier between your stylus and the inner mechanisms of your device. This inhibits your device’s ability to recognize your stylus tip’s location properly.

It can also impede the stylus’ ability to glide around your device’s screen smoothly, which is crucial for artistic works that need smooth, continuous lines. Hopefully, after you give both your stylus and screen a quick clean, the issue is resolved. Here’s how to safely and properly clean both.

How to Clean a Rubber Stylus Tip

Cleaning the rubber tip of your stylus doesn’t have to be a big process. If you’re in a pinch, simply wiping the tip on a clean cloth could do the trick.

If you want a deeper, more thorough clean, then we recommend doing the following:

1. Mix a small amount of mild dish soap with some lukewarm water and wipe the tip with this mixture using a clean towel. A microfiber towel would be best, as this material is gentlest on surfaces.
2. Once you’ve cleaned the tip, apply clean, lukewarm water to a different section of the microfiber towel to remove any soap from the surface.
3. You can then let the tip air dry or choose to towel dry it.

Now, let’s see how to clean your device screen.

How to Clean a Device Screen

The process for this might vary slightly depending on the type of device you’re using. Since most people who purchase cheap styluses pair them with a cell phone or tablet, we’re going to assume that’s the type of screen you need to clean.

When cleaning a tablet or phone screen, we highly recommend only using clean products dedicated to these devices. Using harsh chemicals like bleach or window cleaning can strip away the screen’s protective coatings and damage the surface.

A few squirts of a screen cleaner made for electronic devices should do the trick here. Again, make sure you wipe it away with a microfiber towel to ensure you don’t inadvertently scratch or otherwise damage your screen.

2. Tighten the Rubber Tip

If you notice your stylus still isn’t working after you’ve cleaned both your rubber tip and screen, the next thing you’ll want to do is check to see if the rubber tip is loose.

A stylus’ rubber is held in place by its plastic or aluminum body and cap. Over time, the tip can loosen from regular use moving it askew from its normal position, or a damaged piece no longer holding it firmly in place.

If the tip has too much room to move, it won’t have the stability it requires to make firm, consistent contact with your touchscreen. As a result, you might see skips in your lines or other mistakes.

Oftentimes, tightening your stylus’ rubber tip simply requires you to tighten its cap so the tip isn’t moving around as much within the housing. Another option would be to remove the cap entirely and readjust the tip before reapplying the cap. This process might be easier for some styluses than others, depending on their design.

3. Restart Your Device

Sometimes, the issue of a rubber-tipped stylus not working right doesn’t actually lie with your stylus at all, but your device instead.

If you notice your rubber-tipped stylus was working fine a second ago and then suddenly start experiencing accuracy issues, the problem might be that your device is struggling to read its input accurately.

This shift could be caused by a series of factors, such as your device prioritizing updates over your stylus input or operating with too many apps and tabs open.

No matter the cause, the solution is generally the same: restart your device. This will close all currently running apps and clear any processes that might be bogging down your device, allowing it to start fresh.

4. Replace the Rubber Tip

Once you’ve gotten to this point in the guide and still have a rubber stylus tip that isn’t working properly, your options for a solution are fairly limited.

The more budget-friendly choice of our last two solutions is to purchase a replacement tip. These can be found in packs 0f 10-30 online for less than $10. Just make sure you know what type of stylus you have so you can purchase a compatible rubber tip replacement.

It’s extremely common for stylus tips to wear down over time. Replacing them is a necessary part of maintenance, both for your stylus as well as any device you use it on. If you were to use a damaged or worn stylus tip on your touchscreen, your chances of scratching the screen and breaking the stylus increase.

So, before it gets to that point, take the time to give your stylus tip a once over. If it looks cracked, torn, or simply isn’t working well on your screen anymore, then swap it out for a new one.

5. Purchase a New Stylus

Most people prefer to have their stylus up and running before they get to this point, if you’ve tried all of the solutions above and still can’t get your rubber tip stylus to work properly, it might be time for an upgrade.

A new stylus might be in order if your rubber stylus tip isn’t working because parts of the stylus housing or cap are broken and preventing it from making clear contact with your device’s screen.

While this is a less common scenario, your old rubber-tipped stylus might not be working because you’ve paired it with a new device.

As phone and tablet models continue to improve, fewer work smoothly with the cheap, passive-designed, rubber-tipped styluses. Instead, they require active styluses that contain electrical components and other features necessary to communicate with the device effectively.

Brands like Apple and Wacom will also push consumers to purchase their styluses over cheap alternatives, and to help drive these sales, they’ll design their phones and tablets to have limited compatibility. So, if you recently upgraded your device, you might need to find a new stylus that works with it.

Final Thoughts

Most styluses with a rubber tip that aren’t working properly can be fixed using the methods listed above, like a quick clean or a device restart. If those don’t work, don’t be afraid to upgrade to a new stylus. Opting for a slightly pricier active stylus will likely yield superior results for much longer than budget-friendly competitors. Which means more consistent, problem-free performance for you.

Stylus pens are becoming an increasingly common accessory to portable devices like tablets, smartphones, and even some touchscreen laptops. These convenient tools give users the freedom of writing utensil, but how do they work. Is there a small battery tucked inside that powers the stylus pen or do they generate this power in a different way?

Yes, some stylus pens are powered with a single-use AAAAA battery or a rechargeable battery. These are typically referred to as “active” styluses due to its electrical components. However, most stylus pens are actually “passive” and use capacitive technology without a battery at all. 

In this article, we will compare active styluses, like those that are battery-powered, to passive styluses, which includes most budget-friendly, capacitive stylus pens. Afterward, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of purchasing a stylus pen that is battery-powered versus alternative options.

Active vs. Passive Stylus Pens

If you’re new to purchasing stylus pens, you might not know what an “active” or “passive” pen entails. Understanding the functions and features associated with these different designs is crucial when it comes to finding the stylus pen that is right for you and compatible with your device.

The primary difference between an active stylus pen and a passive stylus pen is that an active stylus pen has built-in electrical components and power sources, such as Bluetooth technology and a battery, whereas a passive stylus pen does not.

Instead of generating its own power, a passive stylus, also known as a capacitive stylus, works by relying on the power generated from the device it’s being used with. When you tap your touchscreen with one of these stylus pens, the electrical charges in your body are transferred to the tip of the pen and then to the screen. Your device will then pinpoint the location of the stylus tip and respond accordingly.

Comparatively, an active stylus pen can be connected and communicate directly to your device rather than relying on interrupting the touchscreen’s electrical field.

Pros and Cons of a Battery-Operated Stylus Pen

Now that you know the difference between how an active stylus pen and a passive stylus pen work, you’re probably wondering whether you should invest in a battery-operate stylus or stick to the more popular capacitive styluses.

The answer is that it depends. There are pros and cons to consider regarding battery-operated stylus pens. Most notably:

Pros of battery-operated stylus pens	Cons of battery-operated stylus pens
Increased precision Pressure sensitivity feature Palm rejection feature Bluetooth feature High quality materials	Cost Compatibility OS and app support

We’ve expanded on these pros and cons in the sections below so you have all the information you need to make the most informed decision possible.

Pros of a Battery-Operated Stylus

As you can see, the major benefits of using a battery-powered stylus pen are that the battery provides it with the electrical components and extra power it needs to support additional features and allow increased precision when writing. This, ultimately, make the stylus easier and more enjoyable to use.

Another benefit is that most active stylus pens, such as these, are made with high-quality materials and implement superior ergonomic designs compared to their budget-friendly counterparts. This makes the stylus more comfortable to hold and almost guarantees it will be durable and long-lasting.

Cons of a Battery-Operated Stylus

On the downside, those electrical components often result in a significantly higher price tag that could be double, if not triple, the cost of the standard capacitive stylus pen. If your battery-powered stylus pen uses AAAA batteries, replacing these will be an additional cost.

The other limiting factor with these stylus pens is that they are usually designed for a specific device or brand, which limits its compatibility (ex. Wacom or Apple styluses work best with devices made by their brand).

What’s more, once you have a compatible stylus pen and device, you usually need to download and install some type of software and/or application to use it. This could come at an additional cost and would take up space on your device you might not have.

Final Thoughts

While most stylus pens are considered passive or capacitive, making them battery-free, there are some that are active and equipped with a battery for extra power and feature support. If you’re wondering which of these two options are best, we recommend a battery-powered stylus pen to anyone who prioritizes convenient features and superior accuracy, whereas a passive stylus pen is best for those on a budget.

Most people purchase styluses to pair with their touchscreen tablets and smartphones to give them the convenience and freedom of a writing utensil versus their fingers. However, compared to a mouse or laptop touchpad, even your finger is an upgrade, which is why many people are curious whether they can use a stylus on this common device as well.

No, styluses are not typically compatible with a laptop’s touchpads located below its keyboard. You can use them on the rare occasion if paired with certain drawing programs while holding the touchpad mouse key with your non-dominant hand, but this is rare.

In this article, we will explain why styluses that work on touchscreen devices won’t work properly on a laptop touchpad. Afterward, we will discuss how you can use a stylus on a laptop with and without a touchscreen.

Why Won’t a Stylus Work on a Laptop Touchpad?

You might be confused to learn that your favorite tablet or smartphone stylus probably won’t work on your laptop’s touchpad. After all, how different can a touchpad be from a touchscreen? Both function when provided input from your finger. So, why isn’t the same true for a stylus?

The reason a stylus won’t work on a laptop touchpad is that most touchpads are specifically designed to respond to input from a human finger, not styluses. As a result, they often lack the pressure sensitivity necessary to register a stylus and feature other design elements that don’t interact with those in most styluses, especially passive styluses.

To be more specific, a majority of modern laptop touchscreens are made with capacitive touch technology. Some are still made using resistive technology, but these are quickly dying out due to capacitive touchscreen’s superior reliability and precision.

Capacitive touchscreens work by sensing the electrical properties of your skin to determine where on the screen you’re touching. This means, in order for your stylus to work, it would need to conduct electricity.

While there are capacitive styluses that do just that by transferring electric charges from your body to the tip of the stylus and then the electric field of your laptop touchpad, you run into the issue of sensitivity again. Some touchpads are capable of registering the input from these styluses and some aren’t.

Will a Stylus Work on a Laptop Touchscreen

It’s important to note that a laptop’s touchscreen and touchpad are two completely different components. The touchpad is where you control your cursor and mouse features, whereas the touchscreen is the screen itself.

Now that that’s been established, if a stylus won’t work with the capacitive technology of a laptop’s touchpad, does that mean it won’t work with its capacitive touchscreen?

Yes, most capacitive styluses will work on a laptop’s capacitive touchscreen because these are more sensitive components that are also more consciously designed to be compatible with tools other than one’s fingers.

Of course, before you start to assume the stylus you have will work for your touchscreen laptop, you’ll want to check if its manufacturer has a list of compatible options.

If you’re uncertain, the budget-friendly options listed below will work on most touchscreen PC laptops and MacBooks.

• Mixoo Capacitive Stylus Pen
• LIBERRWAY Stylus Pen
• Active Stylus Pen
• Adonit Note+

Another alternative would be to see if your laptop’s touchscreen is compatible with a Bluetooth stylus if capacitive isn’t your preferred design option.

Can I Use a Stylus Without a Touchscreen Laptop?

If you’re a digital artist or graphic designer who desperately wants to use a stylus but doesn’t have a touchscreen on their laptop, the best way to get access to this tool would be to purchase a compatible graphics drawing tablet.

These are devices that come with a pressure-sensitive pen and connect to your laptop via USB or Bluetooth. The tablet will mirror what’s on your screen and will give you the ability to draw, paint, and edit directly onto the device as if it were a piece of paper or canvas.

Wacom is one of the most popular brands when it comes to graphics tablets and they offer a wide range of products for different budgets and needs.

Final Thoughts

While it might be a bit disappointing to learn that most laptop touchpads won’t work with a stylus, there are other ways you can pair this convenient tool with these equally convenient devices. The easiest option would be to take advantage of your laptop’s touchscreen (if it has one). If not, investing in a graphics drawing tablet might be the best choice, especially if you’re using a stylus for artistic reasons.

If you often work with different designers or clients on design collaborations, you may have noticed quite a few Shared With You files cluttering up your Canva homepage. Once you’ve finished the project, there really is no point in keeping those files around, so how can you delete them?

The only way to remove a Shared With You file from your Canva account is to contact the original creator of the file and ask that they un-share it with you. Unfortunately, there isn’t currently a way for users to remove shared designs on their own.

If you’re one to keep your homepage and folders organized, having old files hanging around can be a bit frustrating. Keep reading for more information on how to delete files shared with you, and why you should do this regularly.

How To Delete Shared Files From Your Canva Account

Unfortunately, Canva does not currently offer a way for users to remove shared files that they did not create themselves. However, according to comments left by a spokesperson from Canva on their YouTube page, the ability to remove/delete shared designs has been brought up to the development team, so hopefully, we will see an update on this in the near future.

Instead, to remove the file from your account, the creator of the file must adjust the sharing permissions and remove you from the settings. Though this may seem like a hassle, it’s much easier than it sounds.

1. Find Shared Designs

Before you can contact the creator to have the file removed, you need to know where exactly your shared files are located.

Follow these steps:

1. On your Canva homepage, you should see a menu on the left-hand side.
2. Click the “Shared with you” link that is located below “Your Projects.”
3. If this link is not showing up on your homepage, then that means that you don’t have any files that are currently shared with you.
4. In the “Shared with you” section, you will find all of the designs and files that have been shared with you by other creators.
5. If you have taken the time to organize your designs into folders, then you will need to navigate to the folder that holds the file you want to delete and locate it there.

Now, let’s see how to locate the original creator of the file.

2. Locate the Original Creator of the File

Once you locate the design you would like to remove, hover over the thumbnail and select the three dots icon.

Underneath the name of the design, you will see some additional information:

• Name of the creator
• Last date edited

This will not only help you locate the original creator but also tell you how long the file has been untouched so that you can better gauge whether it is necessary to keep it.

3. Changing the Accessibility Options of the File

Once you know who the creator is, this is when you would contact them to have them remove you from the design. If they are unsure how to do this, design permissions can be changed from the Share menu in the design editor of the file.

The share menu can also update the access that different users have, including the ability to comment, view, and share the design with others.

Why You Want to Remove Old Shared Files from Canva

Though it may seem like a bit of a hassle to contact the creator just to remove shared files, it can become even more problematic just to leave them be.

Here are several reasons why you should remove old files (both shared and unshared) regularly:

• It keeps your homepage clean and uncluttered
• Helps to keep folders organized
• Protects the privacy of past clients and projects
• It prevents accidental editing of past shared designs

As a general rule, it’s a good idea to get into the habit of asking clients to remove sharing permissions at the end of a project, so that you don’t have to go back and deal with it later on.

Canva Shared With You Files vs. Templates

If you’ve ever used a Canva template, you may be wondering how these differ from shared files. Canva templates are designed to be shared with a vast number of people. Instead of sharing a fixed file with someone that multiple people are editing, a template is shared as a copy of the original. This means that any edits you make only affect the copy saved to your account.

In the case of templates, users can delete these at any time without the permission of the original creator.

Final Thoughts

We hope this clears up any confusion around deleting files shared with you on Canva. Though you are required to ask the original creator to remove shared permission, Canva is aware that this is a problem for many users, so we will hopefully see an improvement in the future.

The ability to create straight lines is essential when working in graphic design. However, if you are new to using Affinity Designer, you’ll probably notice that the program doesn’t have a designated line tool like other similar design applications. So how do you make a straight line?

In Affinity Designer, straight lines can be created using the pen tool in line mode. From here, users can also make modifications to the line, such as weight, color, and style.

If you have never made a line in Affinity Designer, it can be a bit tricky to figure out how it’s done. Below is a quick guide on making straight lines in Affinity Designer and tips on what can be done with them.

Making a Straight Line in Affinity Designer

Affinity Designer is a vector graphics editing software similar to programs like Adobe Illustrator. However, the tools vary a bit, so it can be confusing to navigate if you’re new to the program.

Though Affinity Designer lacks a designated line tool, straight lines can be created with the help of the pen tool. This is also the tool you would use to make flowing curves, draw shapes, create arcs, and more.

Using the Pen Tool to Draw Lines

The pen tool is located in the main toolbar on the left-hand side. Once selected, a new context toolbar will appear at the top of the screen. This is where you will find various settings related to the pen tool.

Follow these steps:

1. Before getting started, you’ll want to switch the tool from pen mode to line mode in the context toolbar.
2. Click a point on your canvas
3. Hold down shift
4. Click another point.

These points are called nodes. Applying two nodes with the pen tool will create a straight line that connects the first point to the second point.

Making Adjustments To A Line

Once your line is created, you will be able to make modifications to it to get the exact look you are going for.

Some of these changes include:

• Line weight
• Line color
• Cap style (round, square, etc.)
• Line style (dashed, dotted, solid)
• Alignment
• Adding additional nodes
• Fill

You can also add to your line to make it longer, curve, or move in a new direction by adding more nodes to the canvas. Remember to always hold the shift key when adding nodes if you would like to create a straight line.

Turning a Straight Line Into a Curved Line

Let’s say you’ve created a straight line, but now you need that line to curve. Instead of deleting the line and starting over, you can simply change your straight line into a curved one.

To create a curve in a straight line:

1. Switch from the pen tool to the node tool on the toolbar.
2. Next, locate the area on the line that you would like to curve.
3. Then, click and drag the line in any direction.

This creates a new smooth node on the line that warps it in the direction you are pulling.

Can You Create A Straight Line with the Pencil Tool?

As a general rule, the pencil tool is primarily used for giving your design a hand-drawn look. This is typically used in cases where the artist would like to draw freehand to create lines and sketches that resemble the same feel as if they were drawing on paper.

If you have the skill, it is certainly possible to draw a straight line using the pencil tool. However, it is going to lack the crispness and precision that the pen tool provides.

The Stabilizer feature can be applied to help smooth out your drawing, but remember, you’ll be relying on your own hand and eye to make sure the line is straight. If you are looking for pin-point accuracy in terms of straightness, the pen tool is the way to go when drawing lines.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re a freelance artist, creating a logo for a small business, or designing packaging for a new product, at some point you’re going to need the ability to create a perfectly straight line. Though it can be hard to find, Affinity Designer does have the tools to make that happen.

Hopefully, this guide gave you a better understanding of how to make a straight line in Affinity Designer. Remember that the pen tool is the way to go when creating lines and shapes, and that nodes can be adjusted at any time.

There are a lot of colors out there, with RGB having access to an astounding array of them as long as the screen can handle it. Light blends together and tricks the eye into seeing different colors with only three simple colors: red, green, and blue. However, a digital device needs to be told how to do this. This is done by using hex color codes.

A hex color code is formatted as #RRGGBB with hexadecimal values between 00 and FF on a scale between 0-255 divided by 16 determining how much red, green, and blue is found within that color.

This is a standard system that is accepted in all browsers and most graphical programs. At first it can look overwhelming, but it is really a simple system. Keep reading to learn more about hex color codes and how they are determined.

What are Hex Color Codes?

Hex color codes are also known as hexadecimal color codes or hex codes. These are a string of values from 00 to FF to denote how much red, green, and blue are in a specific color swatch. It is a method of denoting very specific colors, as RGB is capable of a vast range of them.

There are six integers, with the first two being the red value, second being the green value, and third being the blue value. This is because all colors on a screen are made up of red, green, and blue light in varying values to make the eye perceive different colors.

How are Hex Color Codes Determined?

There is a scale between 0-255 that is used to denote how much red, green, and blue is in a specific color. Hex color codes take this value and divides it by the number 16 to come up with the specific value. If this value is only a single digit, it is placed directly into the code. However, if the value has two digits, they are given the values between A and F to denote that number instead.

The number to letter conversion is as such:

Number	Letter
10	A
11	B
12	C
13	D
14	E
15	F

This opens up the ability to make complicated strings of code in a highly condensed format that is also extremely precise.

How Does the Hexadecimal System Work?

As previously stated, there is a scale from 0 to 255 that the hexadecimal system uses per color. This means that there are actually 256 possible values for each color respectively. The hexadecimal system makes it possible for these triple digit numbers to be denoted in only two integers. Hexadecimal means that it uses sixteen distinct symbols and does so by taking the value and dividing it by 16. Should the value be two digits, it denotes that with a letter instead. That tells the program or browser how much of a specific value to show in order to get exactly the same color every time.

How are Hex Color Codes Used?

The most common place that hex color codes are used is in coding as that stays completely digital. It is also completely supported in all browsers, making it perfect for web design. However, it is also commonly used in design to help use exactly the same color time and time again. Placing the string of six integers after a pound (#) sign tells a program how to display exact combinations of RGB light to trick the brain into seeing a specific color.

Here are some areas that specifically use hex color codes:

• Web design
• Coding
• Programming
• Graphic design

While it is best for digital work as RGB is made up of light and printed work is not, hex color codes can also be used in print-intended design in order to perfectly color match. Just note that RGB will always look brighter and more vibrant on screen than it will look on the page!

Can Hex Color Codes be Abbreviated?

Hex color codes are wonderful for their wide range of denotation of very specific colors and is designed to be simple, easy to use, and compact. However, that doesn’t mean that it can’t get shorter. They can be abbreviated down to one integer per color value instead of two and be perceived as the same color, but only if the integers are repeated in each color value.

In doing so, it reduces the total number of colors down to approximately 4,000. That is still quite a lot of colors though, so it is still a nice function to have. Therefore, pure red can be denoted as either #FF0000 or #F00 and still be pure red; green can be denoted as #00FF00 or #0F0; blue can be denoted as #0000FF or #00F. This slightly abbreviated code can help improve performance as there’s fewer things to process, which does make it appealing for some large projects.

How to Find the Hex Color Code for Any Color

If it isn’t already known, there are a few ways to find the specific hex color code for any color. If the color is already there, simply using a color picker on a graphical program can list the value. Be sure to zoom in and get a solid pixel if it is a raster image, as the aliasing can adjust the values in order to make it look smoother.

There are also plenty of websites and services that can help pick out the exact color. Some of these involve uploading a file and clicking on different areas for it to generate the color code in a box, just like would happen using a color picker tool in a graphical software.

Some websites also have the option to select specific colors like in a calculator, options to move sliders, or to select from various swatches. This is also often how graphical suites allow specific colors to be chosen. Additionally, these sorts of things usually have space to input exact values into the R, G, and B sections if those values are known.

Conclusion

Hex color codes are a compact system of denoting color values using the RGB color mode. It is done by splitting up a string of six integers into values for each color to mean anything between 0 and 255, for a total of 256 values. It then divides this by 16. Anything between 10 and 15 is given a number instead, in order to keep it succinct. This can be further abbreviated down to one integer per color if both integers are the same. It’s a fabulous method for ensuring the same color happens every time, and its integration with most needs makes it exceptionally useful.

As a cornerstone of the Microsoft suite, many people have used PowerPoint at least once in the course of their professional careers. But, popular as it may be, it can still have a bit of a learning curve to master its different features and functions.

The amount of time it takes to learn PowerPoint will depend on how much you want to do with it. Getting the gist of PowerPoint can take just a few hours, whereas learning all of its special features may take weeks of your time.

If it seems complicated, do not be ready to throw in the towel just yet. Learning PowerPoint does not have to be difficult. Keep reading to learn more about the process and some tips and tricks to make learning PowerPoint easier for you.

Here’s How Long it Takes to Learn PowerPoint

PowerPoint is an extremely helpful presentation tool that will allow you to convey information in an efficient way. It is easy to understand, and features graphics and transitions that can make information more comprehensible to the viewer.

However, learning PowerPoint is not always as simple as putting a presentation together. How long it takes you to learn PowerPoint will probably depend on the following factors:

• Past experience: Do you know the Microsoft Suite or other forms of presentation software? If so, you will probably have a much easier time mastering the functions of Microsoft PowerPoint because you have a foundation.
• Your objectives: PowerPoint has a lot of functions, but not all of them may be relevant for your purposes. If you are looking to make a simple and clear presentation without a lot of graphics or features, you can reasonably expect to learn PowerPoint in the course of a day.
• Your aptitude for technology: It is true that everyone can learn computer literacy, but it is certainly easier to master PowerPoint if you are already someone who is familiar with computers and different types of software.

If you are someone with past experience, a high degree of computer literacy, and simple goals, you can reasonably expect to learn the basics of PowerPoint in even just a few hours. However, if you want to have a more complex skillset, it could take a longer time investment before you have the knowledge needed to meet your goals.

Resources for Learning PowerPoint

A lot of people choose to learn the basics of PowerPoint on their own or through exploration on the application. There is no wrong way to learn PowerPoint, and the following are some of the most typical learning resources:

• YouTube videos and tutorials: The beauty of YouTube is that it is free, and there is tons of content produced by experts. If you want to learn the basics of PowerPoint, many people start by watching a YouTube video that will overview the functions you will need.
• Take a course: There are online courses that can help you master PowerPoint. These are especially helpful if you want an in-depth, technical knowledge of the software. Also, these courses also offer an introduction to other applications in the Microsoft Suite, such as Excel.
• Do some experimenting: Sometimes the best way to learn is through firsthand experience. Spend some time familiarizing yourself with the application, and even make a sample PowerPoint so you can see which designs and tactics work best.
• Talk to someone with experience: If you work with someone or have a friend who is a skilled producer of PowerPoints, they could be a great resource to have on your side. Talk to them and ask if they could walk you through the basics. Learning is always easier when you have clear instruction.
• Try a different presentation software: Many presentation software types share a lot of common features, so if you are already knowledgeable in a different option, like Google Slides, you may wish to refresh your knowledge in this area and then transfer it over to PowerPoint.

The learning strategy that works best for you will depend largely on your own learning style and needs. However, you can rest assured that with the right resources, your learning curve will be that much easier.

Conclusion

An effective PowerPoint can be a great teaching and presentation resource for various sectors. For this reason, learning PowerPoint is a necessary skill and one that will pay off in the long run. This design software, in conjunction with a graphic design tool like Placeit.net for mockups, will give you a secret weapon to mastering presentation material.

RAM is the backbone of computer function. Without an appropriate amount of RAM, none of our progRAMs would be able to run, but what if you need to run something like PowerPoint? Does it need a large amount of RAM because you can do so much with it, or a small amount because it is so ubiquitous?

The latest version of PowerPoint requires 1 GB of RAM for 32 bit PCs and 2 GB of RAM for 64 bit PCs. This also applies to other Microsoft Office tools like Word and Excel.

To see if you can run PowerPoint, there are lots of considerations like your available RAM, operating system, and account. Read on to find out if you have the proper requirements.

Why Do I Need Good RAM for PowerPoint?

RAM determines how much memory and data is stored and used when the processor needs to run something. Basically it means that if you are running a powerful software, then RAM determines if your computer is powerful enough to run it.

If you have more RAM, you’ll be able to run more complex programs and processes, but if you don’t have the required RAM then your device will not be able to run the software and it could either lag heavily or crash under the weight of the processing requirements.

How Much RAM Do I Need for PowerPoint?

PowerPoint, like all software, requires a certain amount of RAM to run. This is because under the hood PowerPoint has a lot going on and needs processing power to get the job done.

Thankfully Microsoft office products like PowerPoint do not have a very high RAM requirement because they are meant to be universal and should run on many commercial and business desktops.

If you bought a PC in the last five years then you will more than likely have enough RAM to run PowerPoint, even if it was the cheapest you could find. The RAM requirements are 1 GB for 32 bit PCs or 2 GB for 64 bit PCs.

Why Does PowerPoint Need This Much RAM?

This is a very low requirement all things considered and in fact is so low that you might have trouble finding a PC in this day and age with less RAM than that.

PowerPoint needs this much RAM because it has complex functions like animations and graphics that take processing power to function smoothly.

However Microsoft wants their products in as many pieces as humanly possible so they have made sure that the requirements are low enough that the vast majority of PCs are up to this task.

Today the standard for RAM is four GB on the lower end or 16 GB on the average to higher end meaning that you will have more than enough processing power to run PowerPoint smoothly and efficiently. If for some reason you don’t have enough, you could always turn to online services that make mockups and designs in seconds.

What Do I Need to Run PowerPoint Smoothly?

Ram is not the only consideration when checking if your PC can run PowerPoint however. There are a few things you need to make sure you have access to you if you want to run PowerPoint.

Here they are:

• A Compatible OS. You will need a compatible operating system like Windows 10 or MacOS for the latest versions of PowerPoint. Older versions of these OS like Windows 8 will not be compatible with recent releases like Office 2019.
• A Microsoft Account. This is a requirement to ensure you have legally purchased or subscribed to MS Office or PowerPoint. Older versions of PowerPoint will not require an account, but will need a serial number, found on the box, to prove you have a legitimate copy.
• Enough Hard Drive Space. To install PowerPoint on your PC you will need a recommended 16 GB free of Hard Drive space. You will need to ensure you have enough space for each presentation you save as well because the images, animations, and graphics will cause the file sizes to grow.

Thankfully, these are all as common as the RAM requirements are and provided you purchase a PC and a copy of PowerPoint or a subscription to Microsoft office you will have all of these and not have to worry about performance one bit.

Conclusion

So that’s why PowerPoint runs the way it does, from why it needs RAM to how much RAM it takes to perform well.

PowerPoint is a ubiquitous piece of software that is designed to be as easy to run as possible so you will more than likely have enough RAM to make amazing presentations without any issues.